Chehalem Valley Innovation Accelerator Leadership Team

Carr Biggerstaff – Chief Wrangler

It takes a Renaissance strategy-technology-marketing-operations-winemaker type to wrangle the resources & people responsible for the Chehalem Valley Innovation Accelerator at this moment of such dynamic change in Oregon.

Carr has extensive experience in companies of all sizes & stages – public & private – from start-ups and IPOs, to turnarounds. He has held a variety of executive positions in sales & marketing, business development & investment, and information technology – in industries ranging from agribusiness to hi-tech manufacturing, music downloads to cybersecurity. When not chasing technology, Carr makes wine – and after a decade in the local wine industry, he’s found his niche as a vermouth maker.(Carr’s LinkedIn Profile)

Bob Harder

As a creator, Bob has a vision equal to none other. We refer to him as the “knowledge enterprise architect.” In 1988, he started the Engineering program at George Fox University and has turned it into a powerhouse that includes mechanical, civil, electrical, and computer engineering, computer science, and mathematics and applied science. What makes Dean Harder great is his tireless efforts to broker partnerships between industry and students, creating teams that solve problems ranging from severe burn treatment to high-tech applications for agriculture. Businesses of all sizes benefit from the leverage that the GFU students provide and the students graduate with sophisticated industry experience.

Bob’s research interests are broad and range from combustion, energy systems and biomedical devices, to tribology and agricultural technologies – but only when you can tear him away from his desire to create success. His latest idea just opened: a 16,000 sq ft maker-space on the George Fox campus. His plan is to make it easier for everyone to invent, make and create.(Bob’s LinkedIn Profile)

Julie Marshall

Tenacious and formidable, Julie is a driving force behind the Accelerator. A native of Chehalem Valley, Julie’s passion is to better the community and the Accelerator is her latest project.

Fresh out of the University of Oregon, Julie helped establish a genetics laboratory at the Oregon Graduate Institute. And, knowing how important it is to raise community, she took time off to raise her children before returning to the workforce at A-dec, the largest dental equipment manufacturer in the nation. Scientist-turned marketing professional, Julie focuses on brand strategy, market research, end-user product development, and salesforce training – publishing journal articles, technical documents and catalogs, case studies, and other research. Like the at-home-mom/scientist/marketing guru that she is, no challenge is more fun for her than bringing up the Accelerator.(Julie’s LinkedIn Profile)

Stan Primozich

Always on the run, Stan covers a lot of ground throughout Yamhill County and Oregon in various volunteer capacities, and in his first term as a Yamhill County Commissioner, serves as liaison to various county departments and committees. He leads by example, proving that the involvement of individuals is essential to making our region a great place to live, work, and raise families.

Stan has both corporate and small business perspectives as well as a strong financial background. Stan has been a small business owner for 7 years and an independent financial professional for over 30 years. Prior to that he spent 10 years working in district management with the JC Penney Company. Stan and his wife Janice have 7 grown children, 3 goddaughters and 14 grandchildren – and when he slows down, he enjoys every moment with them.(Stan’s Yamhill County Commissioner Profile)

John Stark

Basically, John is a rocket scientist. He grew up on Merritt Island, Florida, with a backyard view of Cape Canaveral, watching the space race. An artist – drawer of life and technology – from an early age, he worked as a scientific and technical illustrator. The rocket-man fell hard for the potential of early PC technology, going to work at Hewlett-Packard as a publications production manager, melding his art, technology and love of all thing digital that illustrate, communicate and make people happy – especially customers.

John’s experience at Mentor Graphics/Context, Tektronix, and A‑dec includes managing technical documentation development, customer and technical training, marketing programs, publishing technology, web/marketing communications, technical communications, and facility planning assets (2D and 3D). All for the cause of customer and company success, and the first seat on the next Mission to Mars.(John’s LinkedIn Profile)